Casing catcher



J. K. LIVINGSTON CASING CATCH!!! F110;! Nov. 17. 1 22 4 Sheets-Sheet -1 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y8 Sept. 15. 1925. 1,553,904

- J. K. LIVINGSTON I CASING CATCHER Filed Nov. 17, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' IN VE N TOR L I JZl lin .11 k I er A TTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1925. J- K. LlVlNGSTON CASING CATGHER Filed Nov. 17. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet v4.

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' Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

in! KELLY LIYINGSTO-N, or TULSA, okmnom CASING cnm'cmm.

Application filed November 17, 1922: SerialNo; 601,532.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, JAY K. LIVINGSTON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Tulsa, in the-county'of Tulsa and State of Qklahoma, have inventedcert ain newand useful Improvements in Casing Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to a casing catcher.

In drilling oil wells, or the like, the drilling proceedsas 'longas possible andgthena string, of casing is lowered. Usually the drillin can be continued until a water level is reached and'the well at this time fills with water and drilling must be discontinued.

A string of casing is. then lowered, said string. consisting in a number of easing; sections threaded together and each string corresponding in length to the depth of the well. At each time anew water level is reached,;a string of casing must be lowered which is equal in lenfgth to the depth of the Welland adapted'to t Within the preceding string of casing.

Also it maybe mentioned that in casea wellis not productive it is desirableto withdraw the strings of casing.

hen lowering a string of casingit often occurs that the loweringmeans give away and the string of eas ng drops into the well;

30 This necessitates an extensive fishing opera tionin order to remove the casing so that.

drilling may be continued. Sometimes it is impossible to remove the casing so lost andthe well must be abandoned.

Also when a Well is non-productive and the strings of easing are being withdrawn therefrom it often happens that theslifting means for the casing breaks and a string of casing is permitted to fall into the well.

Withthat heretofore recited inmind, it is the object of the present invention to provide a tool or device which may be employed to SGIWB as a meansfor catching a string of easing 0r section-of a string of casing in case the samedropsuwhen being loweredinto or raised from a well.

It is also an object of the invention that which Other objects, and objects relatingto details of construction,- combination and arrangement of parts" w1ll' hereinafter appear in" the detailed description to follow. I

The invention isi'llustrated by way of ex ample in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is aview in elevation'oitthetool or device; embodying the present invention and showingt'he tool'when set and positioned within the lower end of a string of easing,

while being lowered into a well, the side walls of the well being'shown in cross section.

;Fignre' 2" is a view similar to F igure l showing the tool or device when-sprungand engaging the wall of the well to hold the string of easing against downward movement. Figure 3 is a view-inside elevation oft-he toolandshowingthe-same set as seen in Figure 1.

4 isa view similar to Figure l and-showing the tool when sprung as seen in Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken"substantially on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 3i Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the manner of'con- .necting the uppermost section of 'the; tool with the section occurring therebeneath.

FigureS isa detail sectional view showing the manner in which the dogs supported upon the lower'end of the tool are held in their extended position.

gure9 is'a view similar toF'igure' 8-but showing the manner inwhich the dogs are held positively'against inner movement: with relationto the tool. j

Figure 10'is a perspective view of one of the slips employed upon the tool.

Figure 11 is a. detailedzsectional. view showing the manner in which theslip shown in Figure 10 is releasably held against upward movement. I

Figure 12 is a perspectiveview of one'of the dogs shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 13 is a top" plan view of the electrical locking means employedin the present tool.

Figure 1.4: is a view in side elevation of the same. 1

Referring to the drawings more particularly, in Figures 1 and 2, W indicates generally the walls of a well and the lower end of a string of easing K is being lowered into the well. Upon the lower end of this string of easing there is threaded the usual shoe S which has its lower end beveled as at 9 in the customary manner.

The tool may consist in a stem comprising four sections, namely: A, B, O and D. The uppermost section A is a tubular member or nipple threaded at its upper end as at 10 so that the same may be'connected'to suitable means for lifting the device from :a well. SectionB is atubular member, while sections G and D are solid and'cylindrical. The section B may have its one end slightly reduced as at 13 and this reduced portion is threaded as at 14:, Figure 7 ThesectionB is connected to the'upper end of section O as at 11,

and the sections C and D are threaded to a collar or band 15, said band being interiorly threaded at each end and adapted to. re-

ceive the threaded ends of the members A and B. Interposed between the abutting ends of the members A and B is a gasket 16 and a plate 17, the plate 17 being circular as shown and being provided centrally thereof with 'a suitable recess 18 in which packing 19may be placed. The plate 17 may be provided with a bore extending through the recess 18 and adapted to receive a shaft or red 20. A suitable passage or bore is provided in each ofthe members B, C and D, said passages or bores being in alignment with each other and extending the entire length of said members, as shown to advantage in Figures 3 and i. The shaft 20 is disposed in these different passages or bores.

The lower end of the member D terminatesin an eXteriorly threaded portion 26' and above this portion there is provided a plurality of fiat faces 21 which are prefer ably four in number and upwardly diver-- gent. Upon each face 21 there is mounted a dog 22, each dog having an inner flat surface adapted to fit upon a face 21 and having a dove-tail rib formed upon its inner side which is adapted to move in a similar groove 22 formed in the associated face 21. The exterior surface of each member 22 is preferably provided with threads, as shown. Upon the lower end of the member D there is threaded a nose or head 23 which is hollow and preferably of the shape shown. The lower end of the rod 20 extends within the member 23 and has secured thereto a ring 25 which -is connected to each of the members 22 by a link 26, said links being pivotally connected to the associated member 22 and ring 25 respectively, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The member D also carries at a point adjacent its lower end and immediately above the faces 21 a plurality of lugs 27, one of said lugs being specifically shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. As is seen in this figure each lug is in the form of a block having its one end provided with the two divergent outer faces 28 and an intermediate face 29 which is arcuate in cross section The lower face of each lug is offsetto provide a shoulder 30 The lugs are, four in munber and two of the lugs have formed in their upper face adjacent the outer end thereof a recess 31. Also a side wall of each lug is provided with a groove or recess 32. Each lug is fitted in a suitable opening 33 formed radially of the member D, and a compression spring 34 engages the shoulder v30 of each lug whereby to press the same outwardly. The compression springs 34 are each in the form of a coil spring and positioned in a suitable bore or slot provided in the member D as illus trated to advantage inFigure 8 or 9. In order to limit the outward movement of the lugs 27 a screw 35 is extended through the member D, one for each of the lugs, and said screw having its inner end disposed in the slot 32 of the associated lugs- At a point adjacent the lower end of the member B there is provided a pair of diametrically opposed. offsets or notches 36, each offset being adapted to receive a slip or dog 36. The preferred formrof the slips is shown in Figure 10 of the. drawings and as seen each 'dog has its inner face formed with a dove-tail rib-36 adapted to move in a similar groove 36 formed longitudinally of the section C. A pair of springs 37 are provided for each of the dogs 36 and adapted to urge the same upwardly. Also each dog 36 has its outer face roughened as at 38. For each dog there is provided a rod 39 which extends longitudinally of the section C and is disposed in a groove 39 extending longitudinally of this section. A suitable pin 39 is used for each of the rods whereby to hold the same against displacement from the associated groove 39*. The upper end of each rod is formed with a lateral extension 39 which is adapted to engage in a notch 39 formed upon the lower end and under face of the associated slip 36, while the lower end of said rod is disposed in the recess or socket 31 of the associated lug 27. Adjacent the upper end of each rod there is positioned a coil spring 39 which is adapted to press this end of the rod outwardly. With the lugs 27 depressed the rods 39 will engage in the notches 39 of the slips 36 and hold said slips in the lowered position, as illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings and against the tension of the springs 37. Upon the lugs 27 moving outwardly the upper ends of the rods 39 will be forced to move inwardly and thus release the slips 36 so that they may move upwardly unspring, 50 there is positioned za sleeve-51 and der the tension ofth sprin s 37.; pur- "pose of this operation w' l later be more 40" which is adapted to engage the sleeve 39' and limit the movement/of said sleeve upon said rod;

Themember C has its upper end portion formed with an enlarged bore and, within this borethere is disposed a coil spring 42 which encircles the rod. 20 as shown and; which is held against upward movementupon the rod! 20 by the means of a collar 43, Figure 4, said collar being secured to the shaft 20 in any preferable manner.

Within the section B there is positioned a plate 44, saidplate being secured to" the upper e'ndlofthe section C by the means of screw bolts, or. theirlike, and having a central opening as-at 45, through which the stem 20 may pass. Upon this plate there is positioned. an electrically, operated-loch 7 generally indicated by the reference character L which has a catchmember 45 adapted to engage a notch in theprod 20,-. as illustrated in Figures?) of the. drawings,.and.thereby to hold the rod depressed against the tension of the springs 40 andl42. Aisuitable-dr battcry B of: one cell or more, i'f desire may be placed upon the: platef44 and suitably held by a-split. sleeve 46. which is formed withaisecuring. flange 47 and secured to the plate 44 by the means of screws or thelike as: at 48 The plate, 44 is .also provided witlra post 49 which is encircledby a spring 50, and said. springbeing. positioned adjacent the lower end of the post. Upon the adjacent the upper endiof the post there is secured a collar 52which is insulated; from said post, as shownin Figure 14; The collar 52 may be connected through awire 53 to one binding post 54 of the lock L andthe other binding post 55 or the lock L may be colinected through a wire 56 tothe binding The other post of the battery B as at 57. binding post 58. of. the battery B may be groundedas at: 58". 'Asis obvious upon the sleeve 51 en aging fthe collar 52 an electric current willihe establishedthrough the lock L for. o crating the same and thereby to release t1erod20l It also shouldbe mentioned that packing for. the rod 20 should'be placed at a: point bel ow tlie,plate-4'4 in order to maintain an air tiglitvchamber within section B.

In the-use'of thepresent device, assuming that it isintended tolower a st'ri-ng oif casing 'intoa well as illustrated in Figure l, the, tool a is positioned in the lowerend 'sectionof the string'of casing and the lugs 27 brought to engage beneath the shoe Set the string of casing. This tool may beeX-tended intothe lower end of" the string of easing; thatis, the same-may be positioned in the lower end 'offlthe first section of casing to tie-lowered. When positioning the tool the lugs 27 are depressed against the springs 34'and the rods 39 are arranged so that they hold the slips 36 in theirdepressed' position and thereby permitting the tool tobe inserted into the casingK without difliculty.

'Upon the tool reaching the position shown in Figure 1, the lugs 27 are released whereupon the rods 39will be released at their upper ends so that the slips 36' maymove upwardly against the tension of the springs 37 and these slips will move to the position illustratedin' Figu-res 3-and 4.

W hen in this position the slips retain the tool against downward movement. The string. of casing may now be lowered" and should the lowering means break andv the string of easing begin to fall; theinertia of posed at the rear of the lugs 27 and thereby prevent further inward movement of said lugs. The lugs Wlll then be positioned, as shown in Figure 2, and engage the shoe S.

Well and suitable means may hex engaged with-the upper end thereof whereby to raise the same. Upon slightly raising thecasing then av suitable tool may be inserted in the string of casing so that the rod? 20 may be depressed to again return the dogs 22 to their position shown in Figures 1' and?) and now the continuing of the lowering of the casing may be proceeded with. Upon the casing being entirely lowered the head '23 will engage with the bottom of the well, and due to the fact, that the. lugs-27' may easily be depressed; the pressure of the casin'g'shoe S against theselugs will depress the same The string of casing willbe held withinthe terfere with the upward'movement of the tool. These slips in fact serve only for the purpose to prevent downward movement of the tool. This tool will in this way be grounded upwardly and then a suitable means may be lowered into the casing and the tool withdrawn.

Assuming that it is desired to raise a string of casing from the well, the tool may be inserted in the lower end of a casing in order to prevent loss of the same, that is, to prevent dropping of the casing in case the lifting means should break. The string of casing to be lifted should be slightly raised and then the tool lowered to the lower end of this string of casing. The lugs 27 should be depressed so that the slips 36 will likewise be'depressed and in this way permit easy lowering of the tool. Upon the lugs 27 reaching the lower end of the casing the same will distend and simultaneously therewith the rods 39 will be released to permit the slips 36 to move upwardly and thus engage the side of the casing. The tool will be held against further downward movement by the slips 36. Any suitable means may now be attached to the string of casing and the same may be lifted from the well. Should these means break and permit the casin to drop the lock L will be again operated to trip the tool and in this way, the dogs 22 will be brought into engagement with the sides of the well and hold the string of casing against further downward movement. In case that another string of casing is within the well the different walls of this string of casing will be engaged by the dogs 22 in the same manner as these dogs engage the walls of the well to sustain the string of casing being withdrawn.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am aware of the fact, that the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be changed by those skil ed in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well, a tool adapted to be inserted in the lower end of said casing, and said tool being adapted to operate for engaging the walls of the well and supporting said casing against further downward movement upon said casing being allowed to freely drop into the well a predetermined distance.

2. In combination, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well,'a tool adapted to be inserted in the lower end of said casing, distensible dogs carried by said tool, and means for operating said dogs to grip the sides of the well and support said casing against further downward movement, said means inserted within the lower end of the casing,

means carried by the tool adapted to prevent further downward movement of the same,.and means extending from the tool adapted to engage the sides of the well into which the casing is being lowered and support the casing against downward movement, said means being operable automatically upon the casing freely dropping within said well a predetermined distance.

4. In combination, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well, a tool adapted to be inserted within the lower end of the'casing, means carried by the tool adapted to pre vent further downward movement of the same, means extending from the tool adapted to engage the sides of the well into which the casing is being lowered and support the casing against downward. movement, said means being operable automatically upon the casing freely dropping within said well a predetermined distance, and means carried by the tool adapted to engage, the bottom of the well previous to the operation of the dogs carried thereby and cause the tool to move upwardly within the casing and permit the associated casing to seat in the bottom of the well.

5. A tool of the character described, comprising a stem, a rounded head, a plurality of flat faces formed upon the stem adjacent the head and divergent upwardly with respect to said head, a dog slidable upon each face, a rod extending longitudinally of the stem and centrally thereof, connecting means between the dogs and rod whereby said dogs may be moved longitudinally of said divergent faces, means whereby said rod may be pressed upwardly to move the dogs to their uppermost position, and means for releasably holding the stem in a depressed position to hold the dogs in their lowermost position.

6. A tool of the character described, comprising a stem, a rounded head, a plurality of fiat faces formed upon the stem adjacent the head and divergent upwardly with respect to said, a dog slidable upon each face, a rod extending longitudinally of the stem and centrally thereof, connecting means between the dogs and rod whereby said dogs may be moved longitudinally. of said divergent faces, spring means for pressing the rod upwardly to bring the dogs to their uppermost position, and releasable locking means adapted to hold the rod in a depressed position for maintaining the dogs in their lowermost position.

7, A tool of the character described, comprising a stem, a rounded head, a plurality of flat faces formed upon the stem adjacent the head and divergent upwardly with respect to said head, a dog slidable upon each face, a rod extending longitudinally of the stem and centrally thereof, connecting means between the dogs and rod whereby said dogs may be moved longitudinally of said divergent faces, spring means for pressing the rod upwardly to bring the dogs to their uppermost position, and electrical lock means adapted to operate upon the tool being permitted to drop downwardly a predetermined degree whereby to release the rod and permit the dogs to move to their uppermost position for the purpose described.

8. A tool of the character described, comprising a stem terminating at its lower end in a rounded head, a plurality of fiat divergent faces formed adjacent the head and said faces divergent upwardly, a dog movable upon each face, a rod extending longitudinally of the stem and centrally thereof, connecting means between each dog and rod whereby the dogs may be moved to either a lowered or raised position, a plurality of depressible lugs above said divergent faces and carried by the stem, means for forcing the rod upwardly to bring the dogs to their uppermost position, means for releasably locking the rod in a lowered position to bring thedogs to their lowered oositi n, and means whereby upon the re being released the lugs above said dogs will be held against depression. a

9. A tool of the character described, comprising a stem terminating at its lower end ina rounded head, a plurality of flat divergent face-s formed adjacent the headand said faces divergent upwardly, a dog mov- V able upon each face, a rod extending longitudinally of the stem and centrally thereof, connecting means between each dog and rod whereby the dogs may be moved to either a lowered or raised position, a plurality of depressible lugs above said diver-' gent faces and carried by the stem, means for forcing the rod upwardly to bring the dogs to their uppermost position, means for releasably locking the rod in a lowered position to bring the dogs to their lowered position, means whereby upon the rod being released the lugs above said dogs will be held against depression, a plurality of slips above the lugs and carried upon said stem,

said slips being depressible downwardly and when in a depressed position to be within the outer periphery of the stem, and means whereby the slips may be held in olepressed position, said means being releasable upon the dogs being moved to their uppermost position.

JAY KELLY LIVINGSTON. 

